Taster

Nose: Huge and rich, like a bath of black treacle. Stewed prunes, crystallised ginger and cola cubes. The thickest vanilla-laden custard.

Palate: Apples in milk chocolate, sherry-soaked raisins and warm Parkin cake. Hints of roast chillies and toffee coated walnuts. A faint preserved lemon sweet tartness too.

Finish: Comforting and coating. Takes its time to dry leaving gorgeous spices behind.

Comment: What a stunner. Everything seems to be knit together nicely with great depth and balance. 66.2%? Really?

Score: 9

Taster

Nose: Sweet, dense and indulgent, like only the best puds: Jamaican ginger cake, sticky toffee pudding and treacle tart with warm caramel sauce.

Palate: More ginger cake, now a richly fruited and spiced sponge with currants, sultanas, dried peel and glacé cherries before nostalgic spotted dick with hot vanilla custard.

Finish: Spicy and long, a finish to savour.

Comment: Well structured, balanced and just delicious. It drinks well at such a high ABV too. One to revisit again and again.

Score: 9.4